This is the 3rd part of a 4 part series recapping the recent Pangos All-American Festival held on November 7-8 at AZ Compass Prep (Chandler AZ). The two previous recaps can be found here:
Part I – South Team https://nbnmagazine.com/2020-pangos-all-american-festival-recap-south-team/
Part II – West Team https://nbnmagazine.com/2020-pangos-all-american-festival-recap-west-team/
Below in Part III, we will highlight players that were members of the loaded Midwest team that finished in 3rd Place and included the nation’s #1 player Chet Holmgren. The Midwest squad was coached by long time NCAA DI assistant David Grace.
As previously indicated, BallerTV.com live-streamed all 4 games at the event (they are also now available for replay): https://www.ballertv.com/events/pangos-all-american-festival-4-2020
2020 Pangos All-American Festival Midwest Team
(in alphabetical order)
Malaki Branham 6-5 2021 St. Vincent-St. Mary (Akron OH)
Ohio State signee is the kind of rugged and athletic WF that will flourish in the Big 10! Hails from LeBron James’ HS alma mater (St. Vincent-St. Mary/Akron OH). Branham has a very nice pull-up jump shot, can explode through traffic to score at the rim and is a very aggressive rebounder and defender. Legit 2021 McDonald’s All-American Game candidate is currently nationally ranked #28 by 247Sports composite, #35 by Van Coleman/Nothing But Net Magazine and #41 by Rivals.com. Played for Danyelle Love’s Nike-sponsored Tru-Game AAU program. 2020 Pangos All-American Festival Video-highlights: https://twitter.com/FCPPangos/status/1325507718170378241
https://twitter.com/FCPPangos/status/1325515237223657472
Pierre Brooks 6-5 2021 Douglas Academy (Detroit MI)
Michigan State-bound WF is a strong and physical player that can score despite contact and has legitimate range to the 3-point arc. Pierre can also score with his back to the basket on the block and is a solid defender. PJ had 23 points in the Midwest’s 3rd Place Game win over the East. Brooks is presently nationally ranked #68 by 247 Sports composite and #78 by Rivals.com. Father Pierre Sr. is his HS coach at Douglas Academy in Detroit MI. 2020 Pangos All-American Festival Video-highlights: https://twitter.com/balldawgs/status/1325965410794041344
Kobe Bufkin 6-4 2021 Grand Rapids Christian (MI)
Smooth and skilled lead guard has excellent versatility and very nice long-term potential. Athletic lefty can create off the bounce for himself and teammates, finish above the rim on his drives to the cup and is an underrated defender. Kobe (an all-tourney selection here) had a game-high 24 points for the Midwest in its semi-final game matchup versus the South. Michigan signee is presently nationally ranked #60 by Rivals.com, #63 by 247 Sports composite and #82 by Van Coleman/Nothing But Net Magazine. 2020 Pangos All-American Festival Video-highlights: https://twitter.com/balldawgs/status/1326403188350742529
Ahamad Bynum 6-3 2021 Simeon (Chicago IL)
Windy City scoring machine is a Simeon HS product that was on fire in the 3rd Place game – scoring 29 points. Ahamad has the athleticism and strength to blow by defenders as well as the touch to torch the nets from deep. Bynum is the kind of hometown star and future NBA scoring guard that can jump start DePaul (his future college destination) back to relevance in the Big East. Bynum comes in at the #68 national spot by Van Coleman/Nothing But Net Magazine, #73 in the 247 Sports composite and #75 by Rivals.com. 2020 Pangos All-American Festival Video-highlights: https://twitter.com/balldawgs/status/1325811817432539136
Michael Foster 6-9 2021 Hillcrest (Phoenix AZ)
Big time athletic forward with NBA upside is a terror in transition and active in the paint. Mike has been a 5-star ever since he arrived at the HS level and his dunk on a South team defender was as impressive as we saw all weekend. Foster currently holds the #8 spot in Van Coleman/Nothing But Net Magazine, #8 in Rivals.com and #10 in 247 Sports composite national rankings. Kentucky, Florida State, Arkansas and Georgia are among the heavyweights involved in Foster’s recruitment at the moment. 2020 Pangos All-American Festival Video-highlights:
https://twitter.com/balldawgs/status/1326659114609471489
https://twitter.com/balldawgs/status/1325250992300986371
Chet Holmgren 7-0 2021 Minnehaha (Minneapolis MN)
We are running out of superlatives for Holmgren, the son of Dave Holmgren (former University of Minnesota center). Chet is definitely a very unique, unicorn-type talent with real prowess on both ends of the floor! I have never seen a tremendous shot-blocker with this type of NBA perimeter range before! Put up crazy numbers here all weekend (24.5 ppg, 14.5 rpg, 4.5 apg and 12.5 bpg). Ball is Life’s Ronnie Flores remarked that his production and numbers put up at this event “made him not only look good as a No. 1 prospect, but more like a potential No. 1 NBA Draft pick one day.” Holmgren (an obvious all-tourney pick here) is now #1 in Van Coleman/Nothing But Magazine’s national 2021 rankings. 2020 Pangos All-American Festival Video-highlights: https://twitter.com/balldawgs/status/1325313644473667584
https://twitter.com/balldawgs/status/1327387069744783360
Hercy Miller 6-3 2021 Minnehaha (Minneapolis MN)
Quick and athletic combo-guard is the son of acclaimed rapper Master P. Creative and athletic off the bounce, Miller can finish at the rim as well as find open teammates. Hercy, currently an unsigned senior, maintains offers from the likes of USC, LSU, Western Kentucky, Missouri, Minnesota and Morgan State. 2020 Pangos All-American Festival Video-highlights:
https://twitter.com/balldawgs/status/1326692403533680641
Jamiyah Neal 6-6 2021 Hillcrest (Phoenix AZ)
Athletic swingman has emerged as bonafide Western senior sleeper after impressive performances at the Pangos Premier 80 Showcase and here at the Pangos All-American Festival. Long and rangy, Neal attacks the basket with confidence and is a harassing defender. Late addition to the team rosters here after a head-turning effort at the Pangos Premier 80 which earned him an Arizona State offer. This Toledo OH native and Top 100 caliber player committed to the Sun Devils recently. 2020 Pangos All-American Festival Video-highlights: https://twitter.com/balldawgs/status/1327388468410863616
Brandon Weston 6-5 2021 Hillcrest (Phoenix AZ)
Very athletic wing with sturdy frame exploded for 29 points in the 3rd Place Game including one of the events’ most devasting dunks. Brandon is an effective slashing scorer and underrated ballhandler. Seton Hall signee is also a good shooter and currently ranked #70 by 247Sports composite and #81 by Rivals.com. 2020 Pangos All-American Festival Video-highlights:
https://twitter.com/balldawgs/status/1325944329945317376
